But despite some nervy moments, the Sky Blues managed to hold on – and inflict on Tranmere their first League One defeat since the 5-0 drubbing at Swindon before Christmas.

Moore sprang a pre-match selection surprise by dropping captain Andy Robinson and winger Adam McGurk to the bench, which meant Danny Harrison and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro were drafted into the starting line-up.

While Harrison was deployed in a holding midfield role, the fit-again Apka Akpro – making his first start since breaking his foot at Notts County in October – was asked to play up front with David Amoo and Michael O’Halloran offering support from the flanks.

The tactical change by Moore gave Rovers plenty of pace on the counter-attack, while the extra man in midfield meant the creative talents of Coventry’s Gary McSheffrey, Franck Moussa and Carl Baker had less room for manoeuvre.

But too often during the first period, Rovers made poor choices in the final third of the field and their manager cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines.

The game’s deciding goal arrived on 20 minutes. Coventry’s former Southport playmaker Baker hoisted a high corner kick to the back post. Defender Richard Wood climbed highest to meet the ball and head it back across the six-yard box for Clarke, who hooked home on his left foot.

Coventry, however, were kept in check by the visitors for much of the opening 45 minutes.

Early on, Rovers keeper Owain Fon Williams scrambled a low effort by Cyrus Christie around his post for a corner after the Sky Blues full-back cut inside from the right and tried his luck with a left-footed drive.

The only other scare for the visitors, aside from the goal, came on 36 minutes when Baker’s excellent cross from the right picked out Clarke. The striker really should have planted his header past Fon Williams but instead he directed the ball directly into the arms of the grateful Rovers goalkeeper.

At the opposite end of the field, Coventry stopper Joe Murphy – who started his career with Tranmere and played for them in the 2000 League Cup final – did not have a save of any note to make.

An open start to the second half produced a flurry of chances.

Rovers midfielder Liam Palmer – one of the away side’s more impressive players on the night – made a good connection with a lofted corner kick from Max Power on 48 minutes. Palmer’s neat volley looked to be heading for the bottom corner of the net before it deflected over the bar for another corner.

Moments later, Baker escaped down the right and pulled the ball back for Moussa, whose rasping first-time shot was only inches wide. Steve Jennings, the other former Tranmere player in the home team’s ranks, went close with a similar effort on 52 minutes, finding the side-netting after playing a one-two with McShffrey.

Fon Williams was then called upon to deny the Sky Blues forward in quick succession – first from an overhead kick following a corner and then from a curling free-kick which McSheffrey sent over the defensive wall.

Rovers almost found the goal they had been looking for all evening during an almighty goalmouth scramble 19 minutes from time. Sub McGurk’s corner kick found Ash Taylor but the defender’s goal-bound header was kept out by Murphy. From the ensuing scramble, Apka Akpro and Amoo took swipes at the ball but somehow Coventry cleared their lines.

Having already thrown on McGurk and Cole Stockton, Moore rolled the dice once last time by introducing Abdulai Bell-Baggie for his first piece of competitive action since he was injured playing at Hartlepool last year.

Bell-Baggie came up with a moment of magic which almost created an equaliser. But the winger’s right-wing cross for Zoumana Bakayogo saw the full-back head straight at Murphy from close quarters with just three minutes remaining.